Machine for applying endless bands to ring cores



MACHINE FOR APPLYING ENDLESS BANDS TO RING CORES 3 Sheets-Shet. 1

Filed Feb. 4, 1922 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3&3 1 192 a MZZDQLEY FLYINGEIHDLE-SS BANDS TO RING CORES MACHINE FOR AP Filed Feb. 4 1 22 I5sheetfi Sheet Z mwa'm July 1 39241.

T. MIDGLEY MACHINE FOR APPLYING ENDLESS BANDS TO RING CORES Filed Feb.4, 1 22 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented July 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT "mm.

THOMAS MLDGLEY, Of HAMPDEN, MASSAC HUSETT S, ASSIGNOR TO THE FISK RUBBERCOMPANY, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSAGHUSETTS.

maorrmn rort APiLYING ENDLESS; BANDS ro RING corms.

- Application filed February 4, 1922. Serial No. 534,131.

T a all wiwme't may concern:

' Be it known that 'I THOMAS Mrnonnr, a citizen of the United tates ofAmerica, residing at- Hampden, in the county of Hamp- 6 den and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aMachine for Applying Endless Bands to Ring Cores, of which the followingis a specification.

Iyinvention relates to a machine for applying endless bands of elasticmaterial to supports, particularly to a machine designed for thepositioning of endless bands of tire building material on the ring coresused in the construction of tire casings. Such a machine is. described"in my Patent- No. 1,455,260, dated May- 15, 1923, the present inventionbeing 'an improvement upon the machine shown therein. It has for itsobject the accurate positioning of such bands upon the cores, and themaintaining of the bands in their correct positions while they are 'ingreleased by the positioning means. It

also has for its object various other features of operation andconstruction which will appear from the description and claims. Theinvention will now be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a machineembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 isa view taken from the left in Fig. 1, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a partial end view taken upon line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top .plan view of one of the hold-down units.

Fig. 5 a section on line 5-5 of Fig. L; Fig. 6 is an enlarged partialend view correspondingto Fig. 2 illustrating the motion of the hold-downunits:

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5

- Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a section on line9-9 of Fig.

i Fig. 10 is a perspective diagrammatic view showing the path of the camroll which overns the relative movement of each holddown unit; Figs. 11and 12 are respectively diagrammatic side and end views of the apparatusillustrating the initial stage in the application of a band to a core;and

.Figs. 13 to 24 inclusive are'similar pairs of views showingsuccessivestages in the ap-'. plication of the band. .15 The machinewill first be described with relation to the elements that expand andposition the endless bands about the ringcores. J ournaledin a frame 21is .a shaft 22 fixed to which 'isa cam drum 23 havingcam-gi grooves inits end faces and its cylindrical surface. Mounted for-radialreciprocation in guides 24 in support .is a series of expanderfinger-$.25 having axiallye'xtending grooves 26 in their outer surface.'Theflql motion of these fingers is controlledby cam' rollers 27 coactingwith cam grooves 28 in a cam disk 29 journa'led freely on shaft 22. Thedisk 29 has a hub .portionprovide'd withgear teeth 30 meshing withteeth-on a gear 7' segment 31. pivoted at 32 to 'the frame and having anarm 33 carryinga -cam roll 34: co acting with a cam groove 35in the endof drum 23. Rotation of the cam-drum 23, will by this mechanismoscillate segment 31 71 and .disk 29 and consequentlyicause fingers 25to move-alternately outwardly and in-. wardly. 1 Cooperating withexpander "fingers 25 in a manner to be described are opposed sets ofL-shaped carrier fingers 36 and 37 Fin.- gers 36 are carried onshafts38, extending parallel to the axis of the drum .past its outer surfaceand secured against ondwise motion in a ring 39/ Fingers 37 are carried8! by tubesenclosing shafts 38 buthaving splined connections 41, wherebythey are free to move axially upon the shafts but are constrained torotate therewith. Tubes 40 are secured against endwisc motion in rings91 42 and 43. Rings 39 and 43 are provided with cam rolls 44 and 45.coacting with-cam grooves 46 and 47 in cam druin 23 whereby the carrierfingers will be caused to go through certain reciprocating movements 9!which will be later described. In order to rotate "the carrier fingersslightly shafts 38 are splined. to segmental gears 4-8 which. mesh withteeth on a large gear49, 'Mount--. ed on one face of this large gear isage'ar 1( segment 50,' meshing with'which is a gear segment 51 having anarm 52 carrying a cam roll 53 co-ecting with a' groove 54 in the end ofdrum 23. On tho'T-rotation' of. drum 23' gear segment fil and qonseuently 1( gear til-w ll beosoillatedycafiillieM 1 shaft Tubes 40 willalso be rotated by reason. of.

the splined connection 41.

f so far described may now be considered. Starting with the parts in thefull line position'of Fig. 1 a'band a. of elastic tire build ingmaterial, such-as a tread or a carcass ply, is placed in encirclingrelation to the v expander fingers 25. Drum 23 is then set in rotationby any suitable means. 'The first effect is to cause the ex anderfingers to 15 of Figs. 11 and 12 to the full line position panded from acircumference less than that of the core '6 on which the band is to bemounted to a circumference substantially equal to the circumference ofthe'core. j The cam controlling the expander fingers'now holds them intheir expanded position while the two sets of carrier fingers 36 and 37close from the positionsof Fig. 13 .to their positions shown in'Fig.15.- In this movement fingers travel in the grooves 26 in the outersurface of the expander fingers. so that they underlie the expandedband. The expander 30.

' depositing the band upon the carrier fingers.

The latter are now moved by cams 4G and material thereon (Figs. 17 and18). ;-\ftei the band has reached its core encircling position therotation ofthe fingers back to their radial position (Figs. 19 and 20)permits the chordal portions of the hand between the fingers to touchand, it the band or core is covered with an adhesive composition, toadhere to the core. The mechanism thus far described and the manner ofits operation are more fully described in my Patent No. 1,455,260. Thetwo sets of carrier fingers are now separated (Figs. 21 and 2;?) so thatthe band is deposited upon the core, its centrial peripheral line firstand then the sides. The deviccsto which the present invention is moreparticularly directed relate to the holding of the chordal portions ofthe band in proper registered position while the sets of fingers searate to deposit the band. so that any tenency of the fingers to dismoveradially outward y from the position the axially extending parts ofthecarrier.

fingers are now caused to 'move inwardly;

place the hand during their separation will 0 avoided. In order, toaccomplish this down members arranged to alternate wit-h The sequence ofoperations of the parts ,the pairs of carrierfingers 36, 37 operative topress the center of the band a against the -core 1) duringthe-separating movement of the fingers. All of the hold-down units aresimilar, and a description of one will suffice for all.

Rotatable in rin 42 intermediate each "adjacent pair of rods 38 isa-tube 60 ca'rry in at its end an arm 61. Sliding in this tu e is a tube62 having a pin (33 traveling in a slot 64 in the first tube. and havingsliding engagement on a plug (35 secured by a rod 66 t'o-a bracket (37fast to frame 21. This arrangement furnishes a. guide for longitudinalmotion of the arm 61 which will telescope into very small compass and ismechanically desirable in some instances for this reason. A simplelongitudinal hearing, however, would serve the same func---tional-purpose..

, Fast ontube 60 is a collar 68 carrying a.

' cam roll 69 (Fig. 7) cooperating with a cam Slotin one face ofbracket.67. This cam slot has a straight portion 70 and an angular portion 71(Figs. 4, 9.and 10). A latch 72 (Figs 8 and 9) pivoted at 73 to bracket67 has a beveled end 74 normally forming a continuation of the wall ofthe straight portion of thecam slot. \Vhen the cam roll movesin thedirection of the arrow 7 5 in Fig. 10 the efi'ect is that of a straightcam groove. After the cam roll has been caused tomove over the path 76and. down the angular path 7 7 by means to be described it rides underthe latch 72, lifting it into the dotted l-ine;positi on.of Fig. 8.; Topress the latch down into its normal position a suitable. spring 78 isprovided.' A latch 79 to direct-the cam roll'from path 76 to path 77is'pivoted-at 80' and pressed downwardly .into its normal position shownin F ig. T as by spring 81. The end of this latchhas an overhanging lip82 to hold it in position and a shoulder 83 which will drop behind thecam roll when the latter is opposite the entrance endof cam groove T1,the shoulder being cut at an angle as shown in Fig. 9 so as to directthe roll into the groove. 7

Arm 61 carries a projection SSadapted to contact at certain points inthe cycle. with an arm 86 fast to the tube 40 carrying the adjacentcarrier linger 37 so that as the finger is rotated from the full line tothe dotted line position of Fig. 6 the arm 61 will bec'.)i'!'1.espondingly moved. The arm 61 has a shit 87 through which passstuds 83 by which a casing 89 is secured for longitudinal adjustment onthe arm. In the easing slides a tubular extension 90 of a yoke. 91carrying a roller 92 adapted to make yielding contact with the band aafter the purpose I 'have provided a series of holdlatter has beenbrought into encircling relation with the core. A spring 93 serves topress the yoke 91 outwardly, its motion in this direction being limitedby a pin 94 carried by extension 90 and running in a slot 95 in thecasing.

The operation of the parts described above in their preferred form willnow be given. particular reference being made to Figs. 11 to' 24. Figs.-11 and 12 show the relative. position of the elements as an unexpandedband a first placed around the circumferem tial series of expanderfingers 25. In this position the carrier fingers 36, 37 extend radially(Fig. 12) and the two sets'are separated to allow the band to beexpanded between them. The next stage is the expansion of the band(Figs; 13 and 14) to a circumference permitting the two sets of carrierfingersbeing moved axially together (Figs. 15 and 16) so as to underliethe band on the expander fingers, the carrier fingers passing intogrooves 26 in the expander fingers. A'slight retraction of the expanderfingers allows the band to contract upon the carrier fingers, so that itis entirely supported by them. The carrier fingers then move axially,both sets moving together, until the band is located in encirclingrelation to the core (Fig. 17) the carrier fingers partakingindividually of a slight rotative movement during this axial movement(Fig. .18) so that the chordal portions of the band. which it will beobserved has been expanded into a polygonal prism, are carried clear ofthe crest of the core. The arms 61 remain in their angular or inactivepositions during these motions.

The band is now held by the carrier fingers in encircling relation tothe core. The next series of operations serve to release it so that itis first held firmly in place on the core at its circumferential centerline and then has its sides released so that they may contract down thesides of the core. The first operation in this series is to permit thechorda portions of the band to contract upon the core. the carrierfingers about their original axes until they are again radial (Fig. 20).This decreases the diameter at the corners of the polygon andconsequently permits the remainder of the band to contract into contact.with the core. By theaxial movement of the carrier fingers 37 from theposition of Fig. 13 to that of Fig. 15 arm 86 is brought in back of arm61 and pushes the latter ahead of it, the cam roller 69 traveling in thestraight cam groove and hence keeping the arm '61 in its angularposition. As the carrier fingers move from the position of Fig. 15 tothat of Fig. 17 they rotate slightly about their individual axes,causing arm 86 to slip by the back of arm and take a position adjacentthe end of the latter as This is accomplished rotating shown in Fig. 18.After the band has been located around the core as shown in Figs. 17

and 18 the carrier fingers rotate to their ra- Q dial positions (Fig.20). arm. 61' being, pushed by ring 42 during this motion. During thisrotation of arm 61 the cam roll 69 will travel along the straight path76. r

The roll 92 will now be spring pressed against the band on the core soas to hold its chordal portions against axial displace-' ment. Theopposed sets of carrier fingers nowseparate (Figs. 21 and. 22), roller92- meanwhile holding the band a, nntil a spacing collar 96 on the ring42 hits against collar 68. Further motion of ring 42. which may beduring the separation of the two sets of carrier fingers or during thesnbse-- quent movement of the two sets .of fingers away from the core(Fig. 23) will move tube 60 and arm 61 axially, carrying cam roll 69into the angular cam path 71 and consequently turning arm 61 back intoits angular position (Fig 24). Tlievlast portion of the travel of thecarrier fingers back to the position in which they are ready to receiveanother expanded band from the expander fingers will cause the cam roll69 to travel in the straight portion 70 of the cam groove and maintainit in its angular position. Having thus described my invention, I claim:4 I

1. A device for applying endless bands to cores in the manufactureoftire casings, which comprises two opposed series of L-. shaped fingersadapted to support a band, means for rotating the fingers slightly abouttheir individual axes for expanding and con-.

tracting the band, devices interposed be-- tween certain of said fingersfor holding the band upon the core, and means for operating the holding.devices by the motion of the fingers.

2. A device'for applying endless bands tocores in the manufacture oftire casings, which comprises two op osed series of supports for holdinga band in encircling relation to a core, means for separating the twoseries to release the band upon the core, and

means for holding the band in place during said separation.

3. A device for applying endless bands to cores in the manufacture oftire casings, which comprises two opposed series of supports for holdinga band in encircling relation to a'core, means for separating the twoseries to release the band upon thecore, a series of holding deviceseach arranged intermediate adjacent supports of the series, and meansfor operating the holding-devices to cause them to press the handagainst the core during the separation of the series of supports. I

4. An apparatus for applying endless bands to cores in the manufactureof tire casings including means for positioning and plurality ofswinging pressers, means for.

releasin a band in encircling relation to a core, and means forholdmgthe band in p0 s1t10n (luring-lts release whlch comprises'a core andmeans for holding the band in p0- sition during its release whichcomprises'a plurality of swinging pressers, means for projecting theprcssers sothatthey overlie the core, and means toswing the presserstowards the core into contact with the band, said last named means'beingautomatically contr led by the band releasing means.

' '6. .n apparatus for applying endless.

bands to cores-in the manufacture of tire casings including a pluralityof carriers adapted to support the band in the form of a polygon, meansfor moving the carriers to permit the chordal portions of the band tocontract upon the core, means controlled by such movement of thecarriers for clamping the band upon the core, and :means for moving thecarriers'to remove them from contact with the core.

'Z. An apparatus. for applying endless bands to cores in the manufactureof tire casings including two opposed series of carriers adapted tosupport the band, means for moving the carriers intoand out ofencircling relation to the core, means for separating the twoseries torelease the band upon; the'core, means for clamping the band to the"core during the releasing operation, and

means operable in timed relation to the 40 movementof the carriers tocausethe clamping meansto press the band to the core dur ing theseparation of the two series ofcarriers, and to withdraw intoinoperative position during the movement of the carriers out ofencircling relation to the core.

T OMAS MIDGLEY.

